Legislators in states throughout the country are now taking action to safeguard homeowners involved in expensive and time-consuming legal fights to remove squatters who have taken advantage of influenza pandemic temporary tenant protections from their homes.
Con artists use the squatters’ rights defense to get into vacant houses and forge residence papers. While squatters sell off furniture and appliances and transform properties into drug dens, legitimate homeowners may find themselves entangled in protracted eviction disputes. Repair costs and missing rent have cost landlords thousands of dollars.
One illegal migrant rose to fame after going viral on social media for divulging his tried-and-true method for breaking into unoccupied houses.
Lawmakers in the state will start labeling people who pretend to be renters as intruders and arming property owners with strong protection measures.
New York City had some of the strongest squatters’ rights in the country until Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul approved the state budgetary deal last month, removing them from tenant protections. Previously, a New York City squatter had to dwell in a home or apartment for 30 days to become a ‘resident.’
The old rules caused many problems earlier this year.
A Queens woman was jailed at her late mother’s million-dollar property for attempting to alter the locks to keep away squatters.
Armed illegal aliens reportedly squatted in a Bronx basement with eight individuals. A fast food receipt was used by some of them to prove occupancy at a Queens property.
The National Rental Home Council recorded 1,200 Atlanta squatting occurrences last year.
A Lithonia squatter shot a housing investment business employee.
Squatters took over Tim Arko’s rental home, costing him over $100,000.
Squatters are now considered trespassers, not renters, under the new law. The squatter would be subject to criminal proceedings unless they provide residence documentation within three days.
Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, signed a measure similar to Georgia’s in March. According to the law, the local sheriff’s office has the authority to remove alleged squatters and their possessions from the property. Squatters risk trespassing charges in the event of their arrest.
According to Mark Miller of the Pacific Legal Foundation, the foundation of every stable society is the protection of private property. People will disrespect the law if governments do not defend property rights. We need to elect officials who will.
